Dreamcast-Talk.com

krssn wrote:Left and right of the pot screw. Two tiny blobs.

There's actually three blobs if I'm not mistaken. But two of them are the same IIRC, so you can choose either.

ok I didn't get to it tonight and I'm kind of embarrassed to admit this but I don't know how to use this multimeter.

I mean I know how to use a multimeter (or at least the idea behind how to use them) but I don't know what settings to dial in on for this, I'm not sure which 2 of the 3 holes the prongs plug into and I'm not sure if the dreamcast has to be on or not because I know there is usually electricity still stored in the unit even after it is off. So, again a little help for this newbie would be smiled upon. Here's the multimeter I have (but have never needed to use)

With all due respect, but sometimes you have to do a little effort yourself too.

Google 'multimeter resistance' and read up.

It's not that hard when you take the time to learn how to work with it.

the smrf wrote:I'm not sure which 2 of the 3 holes the prongs plug into and I'm not sure if the dreamcast has to be on or not because I know there is usually electricity still stored in the unit even after it is off.

*sigh*

One has to be ground. Google 'ground symbol'.

One has to be resistance, obviously. Google 'resistance symbol' or 'resistance unit'.

Dreamcast must be off. The multimeter has its own battery for certain functions.

I know i have the same mutlimeter get them for free from harbor frieght all the time lol , Thats the only thing I Don't know is how to check the resistance of the potentiometer adjust in the dreamcast, I'll look into it ,
Try to find more instructions on calibrating the dreamcast lens,I'm sure they tell you how to test it with the meter, to make sure you don't turn it too high or the laser might burn out!

Here This seemed to be good enough for me to start
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to- ... esistance/

krssn wrote:With all due respect, but sometimes you have to do a little effort yourself too.

Google 'multimeter resistance' and read up.

It's not that hard when you take the time to learn how to work with it.

the smrf wrote:I'm not sure which 2 of the 3 holes the prongs plug into and I'm not sure if the dreamcast has to be on or not because I know there is usually electricity still stored in the unit even after it is off.

*sigh*

One has to be ground. Google 'ground symbol'.

One has to be resistance, obviously. Google 'resistance symbol' or 'resistance unit'.

Dreamcast must be off. The multimeter has its own battery for certain functions.

Sorry for the late comeback. My daughter was born shortly after I posted this thread and needless to say I've been really busy. But now I'm back and still looking for help.
I have no problem putting in effort but I wasn't sure what to even look up.
I have since looked up which setting the multimeter should be on BUT there doesn't appear to be any blobs on the "Left and right of the pot screw." It's just circuit board. no blobs.
Here's a pic of my pot screw. it looks like someone tried to "fix" it already cause it looks pretty mangled.

Holy... What the fuck happened to that pot screw !?

But yeah, those are the points I was talking about...

You can see the third point I mentioned above the left one.

You'll need two of those three points. One of them is just a double, but I don't recall which one.

You'll get the same reading with both points, so it should be clear quite fast which acts as a double.

Also, congrats on the newborn... ^^

Ok, got a chance to do this.

With the multimeter set at 20k the reading is 0.05

Thanks for the congrats. She's a sweetie but hungry all the time. I' a proud daddy.

Bonus question:
I've seen on another website a download for a "laser calibration disc"
???
Seriously?
Is this legit? Can I re calibrate the laser just by using this disc and not even have to crack open the unit?

That's about 50 Ohms. A normal DC lens is somewhere between 600 and 1200 Ohms if I remember correctly.

I'm surprised with those readings you were still able to play Zombie Revenge.

You can try to get it back up and start testing starting at 450 Ohms.

But I don't think it's going to make a difference at this point.

Again, keep in mind it's been a long time and I only have basic knowledge myself.

So if someone knows more about this stuff, or sees me make a mistake, feel free to correct me.

krssn wrote:That's about 50 Ohms. A normal DC lens is somewhere between 600 and 1200 Ohms if I remember correctly.

I'm surprised with those readings you were still able to play Zombie Revenge.

You can try to get it back up and start testing starting at 450 Ohms.

But I don't think it's going to make a difference at this point.

Again, keep in mind it's been a long time and I only have basic knowledge myself.

So if someone knows more about this stuff, or sees me make a mistake, feel free to correct me.

I wasn't able to play Zombie revenge on this one. I actually have 3 DCs. one seems to work fine. The other restarts in the middle of some games and this one (the one I posted the photo of) doesn't work at all (just boots to the set up screen).
You have "basic knowledge" then I have No knowledge.
Thank you for the help.
So, now I start fiddling with the pot screw to try to increase the number to try to get it to
600-1200 Ohms?